Kimani Wa Nyoike remembers the first time he saw Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn lined up from Samburu in northern Kenya.
Saturn’s rings were particularly a spectacle. “It was so clear, I almost felt like I could reach out and touch them,” says the astronomer and founder of Leo Sky Africa, an organisation that educated communities across Africa on astronomy.
For years, Kimani had travelled across Kenya with his telescope, chasing celestial events from highlands to the coastal region. But it was the night skies of Samburu that left him awestruck. In this remote northern landscape that is known more for its rugged wildlife than its heavens, he says he found a clarity and darkness unmatched anywhere else in the country.
Now, that same darkness is drawing a new wave of travellers: astro-tourists.
Astro-tourism, a niche travel segment focused on stargazing and celestial events, is booming globally. In developed countries, it’s already big business, with remote observatories and purpose-built lodges catering to skywatchers. But light pollution, artificial brightness from cities, has dimmed the stars in much of the Northern Hemisphere. And so, tourists are increasingly turning their gaze south.
A ‘new star’ is born
“We’re seeing growing interest in Africa, especially Kenya,” says Joan Tanin, Space Education and Awareness Lead at the Kenya Space Agency. “Namibia and South Africa have led in this space, but Samburu is emerging as a serious contender.”
Why Samburu?
According to Kimani, it’s a confluence of rare conditions. “We’re right on the Equator,” he explains. “That means we can observe constellations from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. You’d have to travel to the US for the Northern Lights and to South Africa for the Southern Lights, but here, you can witness both during a strong solar storm.”
Kemani Wa Nyoike, an astronomer from Leo Sky Africa.
Photo credit: Pool
High elevation, minimal air pollution, and near-zero artificial light make Samburu a cosmic observatory in its own right. From December to March, the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn often align in the night sky. With the right equipment, even Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings are visible.
Kimani’s most jaw-dropping observation? “The Sombrero Galaxy, 28 million light years away. That number alone gives you vertigo.”
Tapping into astro-tourism
Kenya’s stargazing credentials go back further than modern astronomy. For millennia, local communities have looked to the skies for navigation, storytelling, and spiritual significance. But until now, this legacy had not been translated into a commercial tourism experience.
That changed recently when Sopa Lodge Samburu became the first hotel in Kenya to launch a certified astro-tourism package. The low-cost resort invested in two high-calibre telescopes and trained its guides in basic astronomy.
“We’ve been working on this for two years,” says Kennedy Ayoti, Chief Operating Officer of Sopa Lodges East Africa. “Our sales agents kept getting enquiries about stargazing. That told us there was a gap, and an opportunity.”
Kennedy Ayoti, Chief Operating Officer at Sopa Lodges - East Africa
Photo credit: Pool
Located inside the Samburu National Reserve, the lodge already offered game drives and cultural encounters. With the addition of stargazing, it now markets the “Special Six”: the usual five rare animals, including the Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe, plus the Milky Way.
The move could mark a turning point for Kenya’s tourism sector, which has largely overlooked its dark sky potential. According to Joan, the country has witnessed at least 10 solar eclipses since 1926, including a hybrid eclipse in 2013.
“We’ve had incredible celestial events, some visible nowhere else, but we haven’t capitalised on them,” she says.
Upcoming eclipses
That may soon change. Kenya is expected to witness a partial solar eclipse in 2027, an annular eclipse in 2038, and a total solar eclipse in 2041. With more resorts like Sopa embracing astro-tourism, Joan says the country could carve out a lucrative niche, if the skies remain dark enough.
Stargazing equipment at Sopa Lodge Samburu.
Photo credit: Pool
Light pollution remains a looming threat though. As towns expand and rural areas electrify, dark skies are becoming rarer.
“Once the light comes, it’s hard to get the dark back,” says Kimani. “We need to be intentional now and protect zones like Samburu as light-reserve areas.”
For hospitality investors, Kimani says astro-tourism offers the best way to stand out in the competitive industry.
“People come for the lions,” he says, adjusting his telescope. “But when they leave, it’s the stars they remember.”
